Roars of cheers filled the coliseum; the crowd couldn't believe it. Two people had won twenty times in the arena in only three days, including a definitive win against the current, no, former champions.
The Chief, however, was anything but happy as she bashed angrily at her seat, "Impossible, impossible! That's not fair, no I refuse to believe that just the two of you could win so many times. Y-You must have cheated! Yes, you obviously cheated. Isn't that right, everyone?!"
She was trying to appeal to her people, but rather than rallying behind her, boos were heard from the populace.
"They won fair and square!"
"Chief Rathina, we thought you were better than this!"
"Don't try to squeeze your way out of this?"
"Fine, I get it!" Chief Rathina cried out, "I lost the bet. Phive and Shix, I concede, I will do as you've asked."
Phive yelled out with absolute glee, "Come on, These guys weren't good enough, I'm still itchin for a fight. I need a way to expel all this extra energy. Anyone, come and try us! Don't worry, we promise not to kill ya. If you get hurt, it's your own damn fault!"
At this point, all that could be heard were murmurs, nobody wanted to step in and face them. No one except the girl and her griffin that were waiting for some action, "I'll take you on!" Krista said before jumping down.
Chief Rathina was not familiar with the woman who had just taken to the stage, possibly a tourist who happened to wander into the village while her guards lazed off to watch the arena. Rathina couldn't actually tell if this woman was just confident, stupid, foolish, or maybe just some combination of all three. She did have a griffin, which made her a competent hunter or very wealthy.
Either way, Rathina was always quite the gambling woman, "Well look at this, another challenger! Maybe she will pose a greater threat than even the Immortal Dragons!"
Shix eyed Krista ad Fierce for a moment, then pulled out another knife to throw. One that Krista readied herself to deflect and counter as soon as she tried to throw. An action that got Shix to shake from excitement.
"You actually have some skills, don't you?" Shix took out her wooden sword once more and readied herself for an actual attack.
"Wait a moment, I feel that just a fight is not enough here," Rathina said as she curled her fingers together, "We may find another wager to be more suitable?"
"Double or nothing then, but we already have what we want; what could you even offer to u- wait," Shix started, "I got it, if we win, not only do you have to come to Shining Twilight's summit, but you how great of a warrior I am to everyone there, then apologize for all the time Phive and I wasted just trying to get you to come with us."
Rathina went red in cheeks took on a lush red color that paired well with her ruby earrings, "Fine, but it's hardly fair to expect our challenger here to win in her first arena brawl. Instead, how about if she manages to last for one round, I win."
"We don't need the full 15 minutes, Ha, Shix and I will take her down in ten!" shouted Phive ready to brawl.
"Yes okay, then if the challenger last ten five minutes, I will not only no longer need to attend this little meeting, but you will both serve as my personal bodyguards for a year. Don't worry, I'll be sure to pay you both fairly for your time."
"Deal!" shouted Phive and Shix in unison.
"They are way too quick to give up a year of their lives," Krista was starting to understand Dante's worry about the siblings rashness, "What about me, don't I deserve something if I win?"
"Oh, yes challenger, of course, is it chips that you want?" responded Rathina.
"It's Krisha and no; I just want you to give me two favors, nothing you won't be able to give," replied Krista.
"Great, then if it is within my power to give, then you will receive it!" Rathina said happily, "Now fight!"
Shix slowly made her way forward, wooden sword in tow. Krista had unsheathed her own black blade, readying herself against Krista's advance. Shix stopped herself just out of Krista's range and held her wooden blade towards her. Both warriors stayed completely still, both not quite ready to start their attack.
Suddenly Krista took a single step forward and attacked with a downward slash, leading to Shix nimbly dodging to the side. Shix retaliated with a quick strike to Krista's side which she easily parried. This was followed by a grab from Krista who managed to ger a hold of Shix's shirt and toss her to the ground. However, Krista was unable to further press her attack as Shix grabbed onto her arm. At once, Krista started to feel nauseous as her vitality was forcefully sucked away. Thinking quickly, Krista brought a foot down on Shix, forcing her to release the grip she had.
Both fighters returned to their neutral positions. Reaching toward her injury, Shix wiped some of the blood that seeped from her brow just above her eye, licking it off her fingers, "Not too many people start a fight with me seriously like that. They just see the wooden sword and think I'm joking."
Only Krista had thought Shix's sword would not be problem. Her own blade could cut through metal with very little resistance. Honestly, when she parried Shix's strike, Krista had fully expected the blade to be cleaved in two, yet there the wooden sword stood, relatively unharmed.
"I make it a point to take all my opponents seriously," Krista responded, "My mentor taught me that, I wouldn't have made it this far without taking her words to heart."
Krista sensed something moving above her. Quickly, she moved her head to the side as a small shaped dived towards the place it once housed, "Now don't forget about me ladies. I'm the once that instigated this little dance," said Phive.
"This one's mine Phive!" Shix said sternly, "You go ahead and take the grif- Phive are you even paying attention!"
Her frustration was targeting towards Fierce, who did not appreciate the creature that had just attacked Krista. Taking to the air once more, she had managed to get the ice phoenix doll in her mouth and was currently chewing on it.
"Course I am, it's not even a problem," he responded as he snapped his fingers. Fierce squealed as she spat out the ice phoenix which flew back to Phive whose eyes took on a yellow color, but his aura was still green, "Cold to the touch?"
"Fierce, on me!" Krista decided that the divide and conquer approach wouldn't work here. They'd have a much better chance if they covered each other's back.
Phive walked over to his sister and leaned on her shoulders, "Looks like they're teaming up Shix, can't help it if I get involved now."
"Fine, just no using Una, I haven't had a good fight in a while, and I don't need you ending it too soon," barked Shix.
"You got it sis!" said Phive as an orange aura surrounded his body again.